Celebrating life; Families come out in force to fight cancer.

Byline: MIKE MORGAN 

BRAVE little Emily Callander was one of the star Teesside survivors at the Cancer Research UK's Relay For Life at Redcar Rugby Club.

Emily, seven, of Overdale Road, Park End, in Middlesbrough - who is in remission from cancer of the lymph nodes, joined more than 200 other survivors, family, friends and supporters in an emotional Lap of Honour commemoration on the pitch on Saturday.

Over three successful years, the fundraising campaign organised locally by Sharyn Clarkson, 56, of Redcar - who has herself twice beaten breast cancer - has raised pounds 50,000 for Cancer Research UK.

And it's the courageous story represented by schoolgirl Emily and many others, which highlights the great strides cancer treatment has made in recent years - and the hope this gives to sufferers.

Emily's mum Sharon, 40, told how her daughter developed a persistent cough more than a year ago and was diagnosed as having cancer.

She said: "It was a terrible shock, but Emily is in remission now after intensive chemotherapy to treat a large tumour in her chest.

"This time last year she was very dependant on others and in hospital.

But now she's as active as any other child. In another year, hopefully, doctors will give her the all clear. She's been a very brave girl." Emily, of Park End Primary School, said: "I now love PE and music and dancing." Mrs Callander added: "I would like to say to parents whose children have had a similar diagnosis, there is light at the end of the tunnel." Survivors included sufferers of breast and ovarian cancers, leukaemia and prostate cancers. Altogether, 17 teams took part from all over Teesside.

Arthur Hoggett, 58, a skin cancer survivor, of Middlesbrough, said: "I developed this five years ago and have my next check up in July. There have been many advances in treatment and more people are surviving now." Breast cancer survivor Ann Wakefield, 55, of Redcar, said: "The message is to be positive, no matter which cancer people have, and to take any medical procedure offered." In all, 28 men and women - wearing special purple T-shirts bearing the word Survivor - stepped forward on to the track as their names were called.

There was also an area in the stand for families to leave candle messages to remember lost loved ones.

Joining the survivor's lap of honour was event organiser Ms Clarkson, chair of Redcar Relay for Life. She said: "My message to anyone with cancer is that with determination and early treatment, there's no reason why you can't beat it." The oldest survivor present was Betty Highgate, 89, of Redcar - an ex Tiller girl dancer As the Relay For Life was non-stop through Saturday night, members took turns to rest, eat, or sleep in their tents around the outside of the pitch.

All cash raised at the event helps fund Cancer Research UK's research into diagnosis and treatment of different forms of cancer..

CAPTION(S):

FIGHTER: Emily Callander with mum Sharon, above Pictures by IAN COOPER STRONG: Survivor, Ann Wakefield with her family, above, and happy hippies, left and top far left dress up for the relay night